6) Lenovo IdeaPad S10/S10e Netbook

Lenovo might not have as high a profile in the netbook world as, say, Asus or Acer, but the company has a respectable reputation. That reputation rests squarely on the S10, which offers a nice feature set for a competitive price. The unit combines a larger screen  a spacious 10.2 inches  with keys that are 85 percent full-size (or almost as large as the largest netbook keys).

About that screen: the big WSVGA display, with a matte surface, is clear and vibrant while being easy on the eyes. The matte surface will improve visibility under glare, like when youre netbooking outside in the park.

A nice option: the trackpad is configurable. So you can assign various areas as forward or back, depending on your personal preferences.

Another nice option: the ExpressCard slot, which enables you to plug in the peripheral of your choice: Have ExpressCard slot, will travel. Also, the built-in Bluetooth allows you to use a wireless mouse or keyboard without needing plug into a USB.

The all-plastic construction is solid, with little status lights and a wire-mesh covered speakers that give it a touch of fashion. (Okay, its no Apple, but its thinner than the Asus Eee PC 1000H and the MSI Wind.)

A downside: even the top-end S10 has only a 3-cell battery. Thats a mystifying choice. Netbooks are supposed to be made for life on-the-go; battery life is key. Why not put out a six-cell netbook like everyone else?

Bottom line: apart from the small battery, this is a well-equipped unit for the price.

Newsflash: Lenovo came to its senses and released the
Lenovo IdeaPad S10e, which has a longer battery life. It also has a Quick Start OS for fast boot up  a seriously nice option for mobile computing.
Check Google prices for the Lenovo IdeaPad S10e; the base model is available for about $350.

Netbook review: Lenovo IdeaPad S10

Notebook Review praises the audio speakers on the Lenovo IdeaPad S10 as reasonably impressive for a budget netbook but says that it's still possible to find a computer with more features and performance for almost the same price on sale.

PCWorld disagrees, opining that the Lenovo IdeaPad S10 speakers sound no better than those on most mini-notebooks: It delivers substandard sound that's barely audible since the maximum audio setting is fairly low.

However, PCWorld give the Lenovo S10 an ultimate compliment, enthusing about its comparatively fast performance: It's hardly a speed demon, but it's fairly fast when you consider that the nearest competitor, with the same guts, received only a 37 [benchmark score].

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